On October 3, 2008, the President signed the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA), which is generally effective for health insurance plan years beginning after October 3, 2009. The act is designed to require health insurance companies to provide equal coverage for mental illness. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, has published information regarding the Federal Mental Health Parity Act, which can be viewed on its website at:

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/HealthInsReformforConsume/04_TheMentalHealthParityAct.asp